The present embodiments relate to a radiotherapy system including a radiotherapy module and at least one X-ray imaging module. The radiotherapy module and the X-ray imaging module may be moved independently of each other.
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1. A radiotherapy system comprising:
a radiotherapy module; and
at least one X-ray imaging module,
wherein the radiotherapy module and the at least one X-ray imaging module are movable independently of each other,
wherein the at least one X-ray imaging module comprises an X-ray source and an X-ray detector that are arranged on a holding element so as to be movable and tiltable independently of each other, and
wherein the holding element is arrange so as to be movable on a base support comprising an earth-vertical axis and rotatable about the earth-vertical axis.
2. The radiotherapy system as claimed in
3. The radiotherapy system as claimed in
wherein the two longitudinal segments are vertically arranged on one end respectively of the first connecting element, and
wherein the first connecting element is horizontally arranged centrally on the base support.
4. The radiotherapy system as claimed in
wherein the two ring segments are vertically arranged on one end respectively of the second connecting element, and
wherein the second connecting element is horizontally arranged centrally on the base support.
5. The radiotherapy system as claimed in
6. The radiotherapy system as claimed in
wherein the two longitudinal segments are vertically arranged on one end respectively of the first connecting element, and
wherein the first connecting element is horizontally arranged centrally on the base support.
7. The radiotherapy system as claimed in
8. The radiotherapy system as claimed in
wherein the two ring segments are vertically arranged on one end respectively of the second connecting element, and
wherein the second connecting element is horizontally arranged centrally on the base support.
9. The radiotherapy system as claimed in
10. The radiotherapy system as claimed in
11. The radiotherapy system as claimed in
wherein the therapeutic treatment beam is directable onto the isocenter from different angles.
12. The radiotherapy system as claimed in
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This application claims the benefit of DE 10 2010 062 533.7, filed on Dec. 7, 2010.
The present embodiments relate to a radiotherapy system including a therapeutic radiotherapy module and at least one diagnostic X-ray imaging module.
The use of radiation to destroy diseased tissue is a common method in therapeutic medicine. Systems that use high-energy, electromagnetic radiation (e.g., X-rays, gamma radiation), or particle radiation (e.g., electrons, protons, and/or carbon ions) are used for this purpose. The radiation used in radiotherapy may, for example, be in the megavolt (MV) energy range. During the course of a radiotherapy session, the patient is precisely positioned to provide that a body region to be irradiated (e.g., a tumor to be irradiated) is exposed to a sufficiently high radiation dose, but at the same time, the patient's healthy tissue is damaged as little as possible. A localization of a body region of the patient to be irradiated is conventionally performed at regular intervals during the treatment for the purpose of positioning. This may take place with imaging X-ray methods using radiation in the kilovolt (kV) energy range (e.g., using computed tomography). To avoid incorrect positioning of the patient, an examination of this kind may be carried out directly in the irradiation position.
During radiation treatments using radiation from different directions, the beam strikes the tumor for each of the directions. The beams intersect at a point that lies in the region of the tissue to be irradiated. The point may be an isocenter and is an intersection point of the beams corresponding with different irradiation positions.
Published document DE 10 2009 049 074 A1 discloses a radiotherapy system having a therapeutic radiation source and two diagnostic X-ray imaging modules each with an X-ray source and an X-ray detector.
The present embodiments may obviate one or more of the drawbacks or limitations in the related art. For example, a radiotherapy system having at least one X-ray imaging module is provided.
In one embodiment, a radiotherapy system having a radiotherapy module and at least one X-ray imaging module is provided. The radiotherapy module and the at least one X-ray imaging module may be moved independently of each other. As a result, maximized flexibility when positioning the diagnostic X-ray imaging module during therapeutic radiotherapy is advantageously achieved.
In one embodiment, the X-ray imaging module may include an X-ray source and an X-ray detector that are arranged on a holding element so as to be movable and tiltable independently of each other.
The holding element may also be movably arranged on a base support, including an earth-vertical axis, and be arranged so as to be rotatable about the earth-vertical axis. The X-ray imaging module may be positioned for diagnostic X-ray imaging at any desired angle to a therapeutic treatment beam directed onto the patient by the radiotherapy system. A suitable rotation of the holding element about the earth-vertical axis of the base support also makes it possible for sensitive X-ray imaging components to not be located in a main radiation field of the therapy radiation during emission of the therapy beam.
In another embodiment, the base support may be securely mounted on a ceiling, a sidewall or on a floor. No restriction with respect to attachment of the base support is given thereby.
The holding element may, for example, advantageously include two longitudinal segments of equal length and a first connecting element. The longitudinal segments are vertically arranged on one end respectively of the first connecting element. The first connecting element is horizontally arranged centrally on the base support.
In yet another embodiment, the holding element may include two ring segments and a second connecting element. The two ring segments are vertically arranged on one end each of the second connecting element. The second connecting element is horizontally arranged centrally on the base support. The advantage of a holding element designed in this way is that the spacing of X-ray source and the X-ray detector from the isocenter remains constant independently of the position of the components on the holding element.
In one embodiment, the radiotherapy module may include a projecting arm, from which a therapeutic treatment beam may be directed onto a patient undergoing radiotherapy.
The projecting arm may, for example, be rotatable about an isocenter, whereby the therapeutic treatment beam may be directed onto the isocenter from different angles.
The X-ray imaging module may advantageously be rotatable about the isocenter. This provides that the diagnostic X-ray imaging is oriented onto a target region positioned in the isocenter.
While the present invention has been described above by reference to various embodiments, it should be understood that many changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments. It is therefore intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that all equivalents and/or combinations of embodiments are intended to be included in this description.
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